diff --git a/src/native/common/common_tools.c b/src/native/common/common_tools.c
index 25c3128b..745d625a 100644
--- a/src/native/common/common_tools.c
+++ b/src/native/common/common_tools.c
@@ -161,6 +161,45 @@ void throwException(JNIEnv * env, const char * err) {
 	throwGeneralException(env, "org/lwjgl/LWJGLException", err);
 }
 
+// retrieves the locale-specific C string
+char * GetStringNativeChars(JNIEnv *env, jstring jstr) { 
+  jbyteArray bytes = 0; 
+  jthrowable exc; 
+  char *result = 0; 
+  jclass jcls_str;
+  jmethodID MID_String_getBytes;
+
+  /* out of memory error? */ 
+  if ((*env)->EnsureLocalCapacity(env, 2) < 0) { 
+    return 0; 
+  } 
+
+  // aquire getBytes method
+  jcls_str = (*env)->FindClass(env, "java/lang/String"); 
+  MID_String_getBytes = (*env)->GetMethodID(env, jcls_str, "getBytes", "()[B"); 
+
+  // get the bytes
+  bytes = (jbyteArray) (*env)->CallObjectMethod(env, jstr, MID_String_getBytes); 
+  exc = (*env)->ExceptionOccurred(env); 
+
+  // if no exception occured while getting bytes - continue
+  if (!exc) { 
+    jint len = (*env)->GetArrayLength(env, bytes); 
+    result = (char *) malloc(len + 1); 
+    if (result == 0) { 
+      throwGeneralException(env, "java/lang/OutOfMemoryError", NULL); 
+      (*env)->DeleteLocalRef(env, bytes); 
+      return 0; 
+    } 
+    (*env)->GetByteArrayRegion(env, bytes, 0, len, (jbyte *) result); 
+    result[len] = 0; /* NULL-terminate */ 
+  } else { 
+    (*env)->DeleteLocalRef(env, exc); 
+  } 
+  (*env)->DeleteLocalRef(env, bytes); 
+  return (char*) result;
+}
+
 bool ext_InitializeFunctions(ExtGetProcAddressPROC gpa, int num_functions, ExtFunction *functions) {
 	int i;
 	void **ext_function_pointer_pointer;
diff --git a/src/native/common/common_tools.h b/src/native/common/common_tools.h
index a2695d59..34c84d02 100644
--- a/src/native/common/common_tools.h
+++ b/src/native/common/common_tools.h
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ extern void throwFMODException(JNIEnv * env, const char * err);
 extern void setDebugEnabled(bool enable);
 extern void printfDebug(const char *format, ...);
 extern bool getBooleanProperty(JNIEnv *env, const char* propertyName);
-
+extern char * GetStringNativeChars(JNIEnv *env, jstring jstr);
 
 extern void ext_InitializeClass(JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz, ExtGetProcAddressPROC gpa, int num_functions, JavaMethodAndExtFunction *functions);
 extern bool ext_InitializeFunctions(ExtGetProcAddressPROC gpa, int num_functions, ExtFunction *functions);
diff --git a/src/native/common/devil/org_lwjgl_devil_IL.c b/src/native/common/devil/org_lwjgl_devil_IL.c
index aade7ae4..9ca030cd 100644
--- a/src/native/common/devil/org_lwjgl_devil_IL.c
+++ b/src/native/common/devil/org_lwjgl_devil_IL.c
@@ -39,9 +39,9 @@ JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilActiveMipmap(JNIEnv *env, j
  * Signature: (Ljava/lang/String;)Z
  */
 JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilApplyPal(JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz, jstring fileName) {
-	const char *strFileName = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, fileName, 0);
+	char *strFileName = GetStringNativeChars(env, fileName, 0);
 	jboolean result = ilApplyPal((const ILstring)strFileName);
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, fileName, strFileName);
+	free(strFileName);
 
 	return result;
 }
@@ -52,11 +52,11 @@ JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilApplyPal(JNIEnv *env, jclas
  * Signature: (Ljava/lang/String;Ljava/lang/String;)Z
  */
 JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilApplyProfile(JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz, jstring inProfile, jstring outProfile) {
-	const char *strInProfile = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, inProfile, 0);
-	const char *strOutProfile = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, outProfile, 0);
+	char *strInProfile = GetStringNativeChars(env, inProfile);
+	char *strOutProfile = GetStringNativeChars(env, outProfile);
 	jboolean result = ilApplyProfile((const ILstring)strInProfile, (const ILstring)strOutProfile);
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, inProfile, strInProfile);
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, outProfile, strOutProfile);
+	free(strInProfile);
+	free(strOutProfile);
 
 	return result;
 }
@@ -378,9 +378,9 @@ JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilIsImage(JNIEnv *env, jclass
  * Signature: (ILjava/lang/String;)Z
  */
 JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilIsValid(JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz, jint type, jstring fileName) {
-	const char *strFileName = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, fileName, 0);
+	char *strFileName = GetStringNativeChars(env, fileName);
 	jboolean result = ilIsValid((ILuint)type, (const ILstring)strFileName);
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, fileName, strFileName);
+	free(strFileName);
 
 	return result;
 }
@@ -411,9 +411,9 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilKeyColour(JNIEnv *env, jclass c
  * Signature: (ILjava/lang/String;)Z
  */
 JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilLoad(JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz, jint type, jstring fileName) {
-	const char *strFileName = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, fileName, 0);
+	char *strFileName = GetStringNativeChars(env, fileName);
 	jboolean result = ilLoad((ILenum)type, (const ILstring)strFileName);
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, fileName, strFileName);
+	free(strFileName);
 
 	return result;
 }
@@ -424,9 +424,9 @@ JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilLoad(JNIEnv *env, jclass cl
  * Signature: (Ljava/lang/String;)Z
  */
 JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilLoadImage(JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz, jstring fileName) {
-	const char *strFileName = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, fileName, 0);
+	char *strFileName = GetStringNativeChars(env, fileName, 0);
 	jboolean result = ilLoadImage((const ILstring)strFileName);
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, fileName, strFileName);
+	free(strFileName);
 
 	return result;
 }
@@ -449,9 +449,9 @@ JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_nilLoadL(JNIEnv *env, jclass
  * Signature: (Ljava/lang/String;)Z
  */
 JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilLoadPal(JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz, jstring fileName) {
-	const char *strFileName = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, fileName, 0);
+	char *strFileName = GetStringNativeChars(env, fileName);
 	jboolean result = ilLoadPal((const ILstring)strFileName);
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, fileName, strFileName);
+	free(strFileName);
 
 	return result;
 }
@@ -498,9 +498,9 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilPushAttrib(JNIEnv *env, jclass
  * Signature: (Ljava/lang/String;)Z
  */
 JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilRemoveLoad(JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz, jstring ext) {
-	const char *strExt = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, ext, 0);
+	char *strExt = GetStringNativeChars(env, ext, 0);
 	jboolean result = ilRemoveLoad((const ILstring)strExt);
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, ext, strExt);
+	free(strExt);
 
 	return result;
 }
@@ -511,9 +511,9 @@ JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilRemoveLoad(JNIEnv *env, jcl
  * Signature: (Ljava/lang/String;)Z
  */
 JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilRemoveSave(JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz, jstring ext) {
-	const char *strExt = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, ext, 0);
+	char *strExt = GetStringNativeChars(env, ext, 0);
 	jboolean result = ilRemoveSave((const ILstring)strExt);
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, ext, strExt);
+	free(strExt);
 
 	return result;
 }
@@ -551,9 +551,9 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilResetWrite(JNIEnv *env, jclass
  * Signature: (ILjava/lang/String;)Z
  */
 JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilSave(JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz, jint type, jstring fileName) {
-	const char *strFileName = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, fileName, 0);
+	char *strFileName = GetStringNativeChars(env, fileName);
 	jboolean result = ilSave((ILenum)type, (const ILstring)strFileName);
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, fileName, strFileName);
+	free(strFileName);
 
 	return result;
 }
@@ -564,9 +564,9 @@ JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilSave(JNIEnv *env, jclass cl
  * Signature: (Ljava/lang/String;)Z
  */
 JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilSaveImage(JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz, jstring fileName) {
-	const char *strFileName = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, fileName, 0);
+	char *strFileName = GetStringNativeChars(env, fileName);
 	jboolean result = ilSaveImage((const ILstring)strFileName);
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, fileName, strFileName);
+	free(strFileName);
 
 	return result;
 }
@@ -588,9 +588,9 @@ JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_nilSaveL(JNIEnv *env, jclass claz
  * Signature: (Ljava/lang/String;)Z
  */
 JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilSavePal(JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz, jstring fileName) {
-	const char *strFileName = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, fileName, 0);
+	char *strFileName = GetStringNativeChars(env, fileName);
 	jboolean result = ilSavePal((const ILstring)strFileName);
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, fileName, strFileName);
+	free(strFileName);
 
 	return result;
 }
@@ -641,10 +641,10 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_nilSetPixels(JNIEnv *env, jclass
  * Signature: (ILjava/lang/String;)V
  */
 JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilSetString(JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz, jint mode, jstring string) {
-	const char *strString = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, string, 0);
+	char *strString = GetStringNativeChars(env, string);
 
 	ilSetString(mode, (const ILstring)strString);
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, string, strString);
+	free(strString);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -682,9 +682,9 @@ JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilTypeFunc(JNIEnv *env, jclas
  * Signature: (Ljava/lang/String;IIIB)Z
  */
 JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilLoadData(JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz, jstring fileName, jint width, jint height, jint depth, jbyte bpp) {
-	const char *strFileName = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, fileName, 0);
+	char *strFileName = GetStringNativeChars(env, fileName);
 	jboolean result = ilLoadData((const ILstring)strFileName, (ILuint)width, (ILuint)height, (ILuint)depth, (ILubyte)bpp);
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, fileName, strFileName);
+	free(strFileName);
 
 	return result;
 }
@@ -706,9 +706,9 @@ JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_nilLoadDataL(JNIEnv *env, jcl
  * Signature: (Ljava/lang/String;)Z
  */
 JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_devil_IL_ilSaveData(JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz, jstring fileName) {
-	const char *strFileName = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, fileName, 0);
+	char *strFileName = GetStringNativeChars(env, fileName);
 	jboolean result = ilSaveData((const ILstring)strFileName);
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, fileName, strFileName);
+	free(strFileName);
 
 	return result;
 }
diff --git a/src/native/common/extal.c b/src/native/common/extal.c
index 7a500b81..4c840861 100644
--- a/src/native/common/extal.c
+++ b/src/native/common/extal.c
@@ -147,13 +147,13 @@ static bool LoadOpenAL(JNIEnv *env, jobjectArray oalPaths) {
 	jsize pathcount = (*env)->GetArrayLength(env, oalPaths);
 	int i;
 	jstring path;
-	const char *path_str;
+	char *path_str;
 	char *lib_str;
 
 	printfDebug("Found %d OpenAL paths\n", (int)pathcount);
 	for(i=0;i<pathcount;i++) {
 		path = (jstring) (*env)->GetObjectArrayElement(env, oalPaths, i);
-		path_str = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, path, NULL);
+		path_str = GetStringNativeChars(env, path);
 		printfDebug("Testing '%s'\n", path_str);
 #ifdef _WIN32
 		lib_str = concatenate(path_str, "lwjglaudio.dll");
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ static bool LoadOpenAL(JNIEnv *env, jobjectArray oalPaths) {
 			printfDebug("Found OpenAL at '%s'\n", path_str);
 			return true;
 		}
-		(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, path, path_str);
+		free(path_str);
 	}
 	throwException(env, "Could not load openal library.");
 	return false;
diff --git a/src/native/common/fmod3/org_lwjgl_fmod3_FMOD.c b/src/native/common/fmod3/org_lwjgl_fmod3_FMOD.c
index ad488aec..9b85630e 100644
--- a/src/native/common/fmod3/org_lwjgl_fmod3_FMOD.c
+++ b/src/native/common/fmod3/org_lwjgl_fmod3_FMOD.c
@@ -65,12 +65,12 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_fmod3_FMOD_nCreate(JNIEnv *env, jclass cla
 	jsize pathcount = (*env)->GetArrayLength(env, paths);
 	int i;
 	jstring path;
-	const char *path_str;
+	char *path_str;
 	char *lib_str;
 	
 	for(i=0;i<pathcount;i++) {
 		path = (jstring) (*env)->GetObjectArrayElement(env, paths, i);
-		path_str = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, path, NULL);
+		path_str = GetStringNativeChars(env, path);
 #ifdef _WIN32
 		lib_str = concatenate(path_str, "fmod.dll");
 #endif
@@ -82,8 +82,8 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_fmod3_FMOD_nCreate(JNIEnv *env, jclass cla
 #endif	
 		printfDebug("Testing '%s'\n", lib_str);
 		fmod_create(env, lib_str);
-    free(lib_str);
-		(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, path, path_str);
+		free(lib_str);
+		free(path_str);
 
 		if(fmod_instance != NULL) {
 			return;
diff --git a/src/native/common/fmod3/org_lwjgl_fmod3_FMusic.c b/src/native/common/fmod3/org_lwjgl_fmod3_FMusic.c
index ff972b84..cef3123b 100644
--- a/src/native/common/fmod3/org_lwjgl_fmod3_FMusic.c
+++ b/src/native/common/fmod3/org_lwjgl_fmod3_FMusic.c
@@ -45,8 +45,11 @@ void F_CALLBACKAPI fmusic_zxxcallback(FMUSIC_MODULE *mod, unsigned char param);
  * Signature: (Ljava/lang/String;)J
  */
 JNIEXPORT jlong JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_fmod3_FMusic_nFMUSIC_1LoadSong(JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz, jstring name) {
-  const char* filename = (const char*) ((*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, name, 0));
-  return (jlong) fmod_instance->FMUSIC_LoadSong(filename);
+  jlong result;
+  char* filename = GetStringNativeChars(env, name);
+  result = (jlong) fmod_instance->FMUSIC_LoadSong(filename);
+  free(filename);
+  return result;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -72,12 +75,15 @@ JNIEXPORT jlong JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_fmod3_FMusic_nFMUSIC_1LoadSongEx__Ljava_n
  */
 JNIEXPORT jlong JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_fmod3_FMusic_nFMUSIC_1LoadSongEx__Ljava_lang_String_2IIILjava_nio_IntBuffer_2II
   (JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz, jstring name, jint offset, jint length, jint mode, jobject sampleList, jint sampleListOffset, jint samplelistnum){
-    int *sampleData = NULL;
-    const char* filename = (const char*) ((*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, name, 0));
+    jlong result;
+	int *sampleData = NULL;
+    char* filename = GetStringNativeChars(env, name);
     if(sampleList != NULL) {
       sampleData = sampleListOffset + (int *) (*env)->GetDirectBufferAddress(env, sampleList);
     }
-    return (jlong) fmod_instance->FMUSIC_LoadSongEx(filename, offset, length, mode, sampleData, samplelistnum);
+    result = (jlong) fmod_instance->FMUSIC_LoadSongEx(filename, offset, length, mode, sampleData, samplelistnum);
+	free(filename);
+	return result;
   }
   
 
diff --git a/src/native/common/fmod3/org_lwjgl_fmod3_FSound.c b/src/native/common/fmod3/org_lwjgl_fmod3_FSound.c
index f283c47f..64f97f81 100644
--- a/src/native/common/fmod3/org_lwjgl_fmod3_FSound.c
+++ b/src/native/common/fmod3/org_lwjgl_fmod3_FSound.c
@@ -449,8 +449,11 @@ JNIEXPORT jlong JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_fmod3_FSound_nFSOUND_1Sample_1Load__ILjav
 * Signature: (ILjava/lang/String;III)J
 */
 JNIEXPORT jlong JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_fmod3_FSound_nFSOUND_1Sample_1Load__ILjava_lang_String_2III(JNIEnv * env, jclass clazz, jint index, jstring name, jint inputmode, jint offset, jint length) { 
-	const char* nName = (const char*) ((*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, name, 0));
-  return (long) fmod_instance->FSOUND_Sample_Load(index, nName, inputmode, offset, length);
+  jlong result;
+  char* nName = GetStringNativeChars(env, name);
+  result = (jlong) fmod_instance->FSOUND_Sample_Load(index, nName, inputmode, offset, length);
+  free(nName);
+  return result;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -977,8 +980,11 @@ JNIEXPORT jlong JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_fmod3_FSound_nFSOUND_1Stream_1Open__Ljava
 * Signature: (Ljava/lang/String;III)J
 */
 JNIEXPORT jlong JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_fmod3_FSound_nFSOUND_1Stream_1Open__Ljava_lang_String_2III(JNIEnv * env, jclass clazz, jstring name, jint mode, jint offset, jint length) {
-  const char* filename = (const char*) ((*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, name, 0));
-  return (jlong) fmod_instance->FSOUND_Stream_Open(filename, mode, offset, length);
+  jlong result;
+  char* filename = GetStringNativeChars(env, name);
+  result = (jlong) fmod_instance->FSOUND_Stream_Open(filename, mode, offset, length);
+  free(filename);
+  return result;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -1043,9 +1049,9 @@ JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_fmod3_FSound_nFSOUND_1Stream_1SetSubStream
 * Signature: (JILjava/lang/String;)J
 */
 JNIEXPORT jobject JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_fmod3_FSound_nFSOUND_1Stream_1AddSyncPoint(JNIEnv * env, jclass clazz, jlong stream, jint pcmOffset, jstring name) {
-	const char * nName = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, name, 0);
+	char * nName = GetStringNativeChars(env, name);
 	FSOUND_SYNCPOINT * result = fmod_instance->FSOUND_Stream_AddSyncPoint((FSOUND_STREAM*) stream, pcmOffset, (void *) nName);
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars (env, name, nName);
+	free(nName);
 	return safeNewBuffer(env, result, 0);;
 }
 
@@ -1087,7 +1093,7 @@ JNIEXPORT jobject JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_fmod3_FSound_nFSOUND_1Stream_1CreateDSP
 * Signature: (JILjava/lang/String;Lorg/lwjgl/fmod_instance/FSoundTagField;)Z
 */
 JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_fmod3_FSound_nFSOUND_1Stream_1FindTagField(JNIEnv * env, jclass clazz, jlong stream, jint type, jstring name, jobject tagField) {
-	const char * nName = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, name, 0);
+	char * nName = GetStringNativeChars(env, name);
 	bool result = false;
 	void* value;
 	jint length;
@@ -1100,7 +1106,7 @@ JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_fmod3_FSound_nFSOUND_1Stream_1FindTagF
 		(*env)->CallVoidMethod(env, tagField, mid, name, safeNewBuffer(env, value, length), type);
 		result = true;
 	}
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars (env, name, nName);
+	free(nName);
 	return result;
 }
 
@@ -1288,9 +1294,9 @@ JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_fmod3_FSound_nFSOUND_1Stream_1Net_1Set
 * Signature: (Ljava/lang/String;)Z
 */
 JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_fmod3_FSound_FSOUND_1Stream_1Net_1SetProxy(JNIEnv * env, jclass clazz, jstring proxy) {
-  const char * proxyString = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, proxy, 0);
+  char * proxyString = GetStringNativeChars(env, proxy);
   jboolean result = fmod_instance->FSOUND_Stream_Net_SetProxy(proxyString);
-  (*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, proxy, proxyString);
+  free(proxyString);
   return result;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/native/common/org_lwjgl_openal_AL10.c b/src/native/common/org_lwjgl_openal_AL10.c
index 74fae153..f3e7db1c 100644
--- a/src/native/common/org_lwjgl_openal_AL10.c
+++ b/src/native/common/org_lwjgl_openal_AL10.c
@@ -294,9 +294,9 @@ static jint JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_openal_AL10_alGetError (JNIEnv *env, jclass c
  * ALboolean alIsExtensionPresent(ALubyte *extName);
  */
 static jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_openal_AL10_alIsExtensionPresent (JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz, jstring fname) {
-	ALubyte* functionname = (ALubyte*) ((*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, fname, 0));
+	ALubyte* functionname = (ALubyte*) GetStringNativeChars(env, fname);
 	jboolean result = (jboolean) alIsExtensionPresent(functionname);
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, (jstring)functionname, 0);
+	free(functionname);
 	
 	CHECK_AL_ERROR
 	return result;
@@ -309,9 +309,9 @@ static jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_openal_AL10_alIsExtensionPresent (JNIEnv
  * ALenum alGetEnumValue(ALubyte *enumName);
  */
 static jint JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_openal_AL10_alGetEnumValue (JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz, jstring ename) {
-	ALubyte* functionname = (ALubyte*) ((*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, ename, 0));
+	ALubyte* functionname = (ALubyte*) GetStringNativeChars(env, ename);
 	jint result = (jint) alGetEnumValue(functionname);
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, (jstring)functionname, 0);
+	free(functionname);
 
 	CHECK_AL_ERROR
 	return result;
diff --git a/src/native/common/org_lwjgl_openal_ALC.c b/src/native/common/org_lwjgl_openal_ALC.c
index b7c4ae6d..3e2122d0 100644
--- a/src/native/common/org_lwjgl_openal_ALC.c
+++ b/src/native/common/org_lwjgl_openal_ALC.c
@@ -117,16 +117,15 @@ static void JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_openal_ALC_nalcGetIntegerv (JNIEnv *env, jcla
  * ALCdevice *alcOpenDevice( const ALubyte *tokstr );
  */
 static jobject JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_openal_ALC_alcOpenDevice (JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz, jstring tokstr) {
-	const char * tokenstring;
+	char * tokenstring;
 	ALCdevice* device;
 	/* get ready to create ALCdevice instance */
 	jobject alcDevice_object	= NULL;
 	jclass alcDevice_class		= NULL;
 	jmethodID alcDevice_method	= NULL;
 
-	jboolean isCopy = JNI_FALSE;
 	if(tokstr != NULL) {
-		tokenstring = ((*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, tokstr, &isCopy));
+		tokenstring = GetStringNativeChars(env, tokstr);
 	} else {
 		tokenstring = NULL;
 	}
@@ -137,7 +136,7 @@ static jobject JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_openal_ALC_alcOpenDevice (JNIEnv *env, jcl
 	/* if error - cleanup and get out */
 	if(device == NULL) {
 		if(tokenstring != NULL) {
-			(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, tokstr, tokenstring);
+			free(tokenstring);
 		}
 		return NULL;
 	}
@@ -151,7 +150,7 @@ static jobject JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_openal_ALC_alcOpenDevice (JNIEnv *env, jcl
 
 	/* clean up */
 	if (tokenstring != NULL)
-		(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, tokstr, tokenstring);
+		free(tokenstring);
 
 	return alcDevice_object;
 }
@@ -324,11 +323,11 @@ static jint JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_openal_ALC_nalcGetError (JNIEnv *env, jclass
  */
 static jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_openal_ALC_nalcIsExtensionPresent (JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz, jint deviceaddress, jstring extName) {
 	/* get extension */
-	ALubyte* functionname = (ALubyte*) ((*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, extName, 0));
+	ALubyte* functionname = (ALubyte*) GetStringNativeChars(env, extName);
 	
 	jboolean result = (jboolean) alcIsExtensionPresent((ALCdevice*) deviceaddress, functionname);
 	
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, extName, (const char *)functionname);
+	free(functionname);
 	
 	CHECK_ALC_ERROR
 	return result;
@@ -342,11 +341,11 @@ static jboolean JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_openal_ALC_nalcIsExtensionPresent (JNIEnv
  */
 static jint JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_openal_ALC_nalcGetEnumValue (JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz, jint deviceaddress, jstring enumName) {	
 	/* get extension */
-	ALubyte* enumerationname = (ALubyte*) ((*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, enumName, 0));
+	ALubyte* enumerationname = (ALubyte*) GetStringNativeChars(env, enumName);
 	
 	jint result = (jint) alcGetEnumValue((ALCdevice*) deviceaddress, enumerationname);
 	
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, enumName, (const char *)enumerationname);
+	free(enumerationname);
 	
 	CHECK_ALC_ERROR
 	return result;
diff --git a/src/native/linux/org_lwjgl_Sys.c b/src/native/linux/org_lwjgl_Sys.c
index 5ba613d6..680434e7 100644
--- a/src/native/linux/org_lwjgl_Sys.c
+++ b/src/native/linux/org_lwjgl_Sys.c
@@ -140,13 +140,14 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_Sys_setProcessPriority
 
 JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_Sys_nAlert(JNIEnv * env, jclass clazz, jstring title, jstring message)
 {
-	jboolean copy = JNI_FALSE;
-	const char * eMessageText = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, message, &copy);
-	const char * cTitleBarText = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, title, &copy);
-	printf("*** Alert ***\n%s\n%s\n", cTitleBarText, eMessageText);
+	char * eMessageText = GetStringNativeChars(env, message);
+	char * cTitleBarText = GetStringNativeChars(env, title);
+	MessageBox(getCurrentHWND(), eMessageText, cTitleBarText, MB_OK | MB_TOPMOST);
 
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, message, eMessageText);
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, title, cTitleBarText);
+	printfDebug("*** Alert ***%s\n%s\n", cTitleBarText, eMessageText);
+	
+	free(eMessageText);
+	free(cTitleBarText);
 }
 
 JNIEXPORT jstring JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_Sys_getNativeLibraryVersion(JNIEnv *env, jclass clazz) {
@@ -161,9 +162,9 @@ JNIEXPORT jstring JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_Sys_getNativeLibraryVersion(JNIEnv *env
 JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_Sys_nOpenURL
   (JNIEnv * env, jclass clazz, jstring url)
 {
-	const char * urlString = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, url, NULL);
+	char * urlString = GetStringNativeChars(env, url);
 	printf("*** Please visit %s\n", urlString);
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, url, urlString);
+	free(urlString);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/native/linux/org_lwjgl_opengl_Display.c b/src/native/linux/org_lwjgl_opengl_Display.c
index a7e2d24a..d1ee1b6d 100644
--- a/src/native/linux/org_lwjgl_opengl_Display.c
+++ b/src/native/linux/org_lwjgl_opengl_Display.c
@@ -310,9 +310,9 @@ static void setWindowTitle(const char *title) {
 }
 
 JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_opengl_LinuxDisplay_setTitle(JNIEnv * env, jobject this, jstring title_obj) {
-	const char * title = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, title_obj, NULL);
+	char * title = GetStringNativeChars(env, title_obj);
 	setWindowTitle(title);
-	(*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, title_obj, title);
+	free(title);
 }
 
 static void destroyWindow(void) {
diff --git a/src/native/macosx/org_lwjgl_Sys.c b/src/native/macosx/org_lwjgl_Sys.c
index cd9ed3a2..c50534da 100644
--- a/src/native/macosx/org_lwjgl_Sys.c
+++ b/src/native/macosx/org_lwjgl_Sys.c
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_Sys_nAlert(JNIEnv * env, jclass clazz, jst
 JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_Sys_nOpenURL
   (JNIEnv * env, jclass clazz, jstring url)
 {
-/*	const char * urlString = env->GetStringUTFChars(url, NULL);
+/*	char * urlString = GetStringNativeChars(env, url);
 
 	OSStatus err;
 	ICInstance inst;
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_Sys_nOpenURL
 	Str255  urlStr;
 
 	CopyCStringToPascal(urlString, urlStr);
-	env->ReleaseStringUTFChars(url, urlString);
+	free(urlString);
 	err = ICStart(&inst, '????'); // Use your creator code if you have one!
 	if (err == noErr) {
 		startSel = 0;
diff --git a/src/native/win32/org_lwjgl_Sys.cpp b/src/native/win32/org_lwjgl_Sys.cpp
index 9bfb5357..65be6cac 100644
--- a/src/native/win32/org_lwjgl_Sys.cpp
+++ b/src/native/win32/org_lwjgl_Sys.cpp
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 #include "Window.h"
 #include "org_lwjgl_Sys.h"
 #include "common_tools.h"
+#include <malloc.h>
 
 unsigned __int64		hires_timer_freq = 0;			// Hires timer frequency
 unsigned __int64		hires_timer = 0;				// Hires timer current time
@@ -119,15 +120,14 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_Sys_setProcessPriority
 JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_Sys_nAlert
   (JNIEnv * env, jclass clazz, jstring title, jstring message)
 {
-	jboolean copy = JNI_FALSE;
-	const char * eMessageText = env->GetStringUTFChars(message, &copy);
-	const char * cTitleBarText = env->GetStringUTFChars(title, &copy);
+	char * eMessageText = GetStringNativeChars(env, message);
+	char * cTitleBarText = GetStringNativeChars(env, title);
 	MessageBox(getCurrentHWND(), eMessageText, cTitleBarText, MB_OK | MB_TOPMOST);
 
 	printfDebug("*** Alert ***%s\n%s\n", cTitleBarText, eMessageText);
 	
-	env->ReleaseStringUTFChars(message, eMessageText);
-	env->ReleaseStringUTFChars(title, cTitleBarText);
+	free(eMessageText);
+	free(cTitleBarText);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -138,13 +138,13 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_Sys_nAlert
 JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_Sys_nOpenURL
   (JNIEnv * env, jclass clazz, jstring url)
 {
-	const char * urlString = env->GetStringUTFChars(url, NULL);
+	char * urlString = GetStringNativeChars(env, url);
 
 	char command[256];
 	strcpy(command, "");
 	strcat(command, "rundll32 url.dll,FileProtocolHandler ");
 	strncat(command, urlString, 200); // Prevent buffer overflow
-	env->ReleaseStringUTFChars(url, urlString);
+	free(urlString);
 
 	STARTUPINFO si;
 	PROCESS_INFORMATION pi;
diff --git a/src/native/win32/org_lwjgl_opengl_Display.cpp b/src/native/win32/org_lwjgl_opengl_Display.cpp
index 7d1b4344..183e0775 100644
--- a/src/native/win32/org_lwjgl_opengl_Display.cpp
+++ b/src/native/win32/org_lwjgl_opengl_Display.cpp
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
 #include "extgl_wgl.h"
 #include "display.h"
 #include "org_lwjgl_opengl_Win32Display.h"
+#include <malloc.h>
 
 static bool				oneShotInitialised = false;     // Registers the LWJGL window class
 
@@ -525,9 +526,9 @@ HWND createWindow(int x, int y, int width, int height, bool fullscreen, bool und
 JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_org_lwjgl_opengl_Win32Display_setTitle
   (JNIEnv * env, jobject self, jstring title_obj)
 {
-	const char * title = env->GetStringUTFChars(title_obj, NULL);
+	char * title = GetStringNativeChars(env, title_obj);
 	SetWindowText(display_hwnd, title);
-	env->ReleaseStringUTFChars(title_obj, title);
+	free(title);
 }
 
 /*